SOUTHERN AFRICA, 
357 
CHAP. VI. 
Sketches on a yourney into the Country of the Namaaquas. 
''^HE breaking up of the foutli-eaft monfoon, which generally 
happens towards the end of April or the beginning of May, 
is a feafon of the year that, of all others, is worft calculated for 
undertaking a journey through the fandy defarts of Southern 
Africa. Should the change of the monfoon not have taken place 
when the traveller fets out, the long drought which always pre- 
cedes it will have parched up and deftroyed vegetation to fuch 
a degree, that his cattle would be in danger of perifliing from 
fcarcity of food, and ftill more fo from want of water: and, 
ftiould the contrary be the cafe, he is equally unfortunate, as 
not only for fome time he will find no pafturage, but muft alfo 
have to contend with all the inconveniences of ftormy weather, 
and perhaps be retarded for weeks together by the fwelling of 
the rivers. 
Weighty as thefe objedtions appeared to be, it was thought 
expedient to commence a journey to the northern parts of the 
colony, along the weftern coaft, at the very moment when the 
breaking up of the fummer monfoon was exped;ed. It was the 
tenth of April when I fet forward from CapeTown, with a covered 
waggon, and twelve ftout oxen, in good condition, a fmgle horfe, 
a fiave, a waggoner, and leader, who had accompanied me on 
the 
